Devices for teaching pupils the art of swimming

ABSTRACT

A swimming belt comprising a resilient band having a float attached to each end thereof. Each float includes a projecting yoke in which a bent portion at the end of the band is received. The bent portion has a terminal shoulder and a projection adjacent the shoulder and the bent portion extends through the yoke to lie against the outer periphery of the float such that the shoulder is received in an external groove adjacent the yoke while the projection is fitted in the yoke. The band includes a reinforcement therein between its ends in spaced relation from the floats.

United States Patent [191 Lind [ NOV. 13, 1973 DEVICES FOR TEACHINGPUPILS THE ART OF SWIMMING [76] Inventor: Roland Ingemar Lind, Odonvagenl0, Atvidaberg, Sweden [22] Filed: Dec. 17, 1971 {21] Appl. No.: 209,270

[52] U.S. Cl. 9/337 [51] Int. Cl. B63c 9/16 [58] Field of Search..9/334342, 344, 329, 311

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 635,439 10/1899 Kunert 9/3401,343,928 6/1920 May 9/336 2,935,751 5/1960 Emmick et al..... 9/3393,077,618 2/1963 O'Link 9/337 Primary ExaminerMilton Buchler AssistantExaminerPaul E. Sauberer Attorney-Eric H. Waters et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A swimming belt comprising a resilient band having a floatattached to each end thereof. Each float includes a projecting yoke inwhich a bent portion at the end of the band is received. The bentportion has a terminal shoulder and a projection adjacent the shoulderand the bent portion extends through the yoke to lie against the outerperiphery of the float such that the shoulder is received in an externalgroove adjacent the yoke while the projection is fitted in the yoke. The

band includes a reinforcement therein between its ends in spacedrelation from the floats.

2 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Pmimmuuvm 1975 3,771,182

SHEET 1 OF 2 PAIENIEbnuv 13 I915 SHEET 20F 2 FIG.L

DEVICES FOR TEACHING PUPILS THE ART OF SWIMMING The present inventionrelates to improvements in swimming instruction aids, and moreparticularly to swimming belts, the purpose of which is to teachnonswimmers the art of swimming.

Such aids are known and a suitable and serviceable type comprises aresilient girdle or band, hereinafter called a band, to the ends ofwhich are affixed floats made of cork, foam plastic or other suitablebuoyant material.

Other known types of swimming belts comprise a band with floats at bothends, and also various types of swimming vests, which are tied or lacedon.

Many of these known swimming aids are quite serviceable as long as theyare of good quality, but show certain deficiencies when used forinstructing a larger number of pupils in the art of swimming at the sametime.

Most of these aids require a considerable time to put on properly, andsome have a tendency to slide backwards on the swimmer who thereby riskshaving his head lowered under the water. This risk makes it necessaryfor the instructor to keep the beginners and less experienced pupilsunder constant vigil.

A particularly effective known swimming aid comprises a bent, resilientband carrying a float at both its ends, said band tending to bring saidfloats together, the band being bent to form an oval or a circle,embracing the trunk of the swimmer. This structure will tend to move inthe direction of the head of the swimmer, the structure being heldsecurely under his arms. It is easy to apply and substantially adapts toall bodybuilds and slides consistently into a correct position on theswimmer.

However, the previously known constructions of this type suffer from thedisadvantage that the band has been made uniformly strong throughoutwhich gives it, when straightened out, a tendency to yield mostly in themiddle portion, which may bring the floats into an unwanted position,and in certain cases entails the risk that the swimming belt may slip orbreak.

The chief object of the invention is to provide a band which is providedwith a reinforcement, located between the floats, said reinforcementeliminating the above-rnentioned risk.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved joining ofthe floats and the band, which makes FIG. 3 illustrates in a like mannerthe bending of a band according to the invention when stressed in thesame way, and

FIG. 4 is a cross section view of a preferred embodiment of a swimmingbelt according to the invention.

The improvements according to the present invention will be described indetail hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an oval shaped float l, detachably fixed to aresilient band 2. It has proved suitable to make the float 1 as a hollowbody of polyethylene or of foamed plastic. The band 2, which may besubjected to it possible to detach the floats for transport or the like,I

but also makes sure that they do not work loose inadvertently when inuse, which could cause an accident.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a swimming belt according to theinvention with a resilient band and one float, the other having beenomitted for the sake of clarity;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic end view of a conventional of the band thereof;

rather great strain, is preferably made of l-ID-ethylene, nylon orsimilar non-corroding material.

FIG. 2 illustrates a swimming belt of a type already known with aresilient band. When this belt is put on, the band is straightened outand incurs a strong breaking tendency in the middle, which, oftenrepeated, may cause rupture by fatigue.

FIG. 3 diagrammatically shows the improved swimming belt according tothe invention, having a reinforcement 2a in the middle of the band sothat the breaking tendency is counteracted. Furthermore, the band 2according to the invention is bent at its end portions 3 is such a way,that end shoulders 4 engages grooves 5 in the floats 1 and are held intothese by a force that grows when the tension in the band 2 increases.

The details of the preferred embodiment are most clearly shown in FIG.4, which shows the floats I in cross section with their grooves 5, whichcooperate with yokes 6 to press the bent end portions 3 of the band 2towards the floats l. The end portions 3 of the band 2 are provided withend shoulders 4 and also with projections 7, which help to keep the band2 against said yokes 6. The band 2 is also provided with thereinforcement 2a at its middle.

In this way a secure connection of the floats l to the band 2 isattained at the same time as the risk for breaking or unwanted flexingof the band 2 is avoided.

What I claim is:

1. A swimming belt comprising a resilient band having opposite ends, andtwo floats, each attached to one of the ends of the band, each floatincluding a projecting yoke for receiving on end of the band and beingprovided with an external groove adjacent the yoke, said band includingat each end a bent portion with a shoulder, and a projection adjacentsaid shoulder, said bent portion extending through a corresponding yoketo lie against the outer periphery of the float with said shoulderreceived in part in said groove and said projection fitted in said yoke,said band including a reinforcement therein between said ends and spacedfrom said floats. v

2. A belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said yoke is U-shaped.

1. A swimming belt comprising a resilient band having opposite ends, andtwo floats, each attached to one of the ends of the band, each floatincluding a projecting yoke for receiving on end of the band and beingprovided with an external groove adjacent the yoke, said band includingat each end a bent portion with a shoulder, and a projection adjacentsaid shoulder, said bent portion extending through a corresponding yoketo lie against the outer periphery of the float with said shoulderreceived in part in said groove and said projection fitted in said yoke,said band including a reinforcement therein between said ends and spacedfrom said floats.
 2. A belt as claimed in claim 1 wherein said yoke isU-shaped.